JULY WEATHER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17023, 7 August 1929, Page 2

JULY WEATHER

COLD, WET MONTH X IN GOOD CONDITION Per Pres* Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. „eteorological report for July states The month has been on the whole, cold, wet, and unsettled, but except for a few occasions, there has been an absence of strong winds. The rainfall again was considerably above the average over most of the Dominion, though a deficiency is recorded in some districts* In the South Island deficiencies were experienced south of Westport, in Otago, and at a few scattered places in North Canterbury and in the North Island places on the east coast and about Wanganui and Tailiape received less than the normal fall. Ihe greatest difference from the average oeeurred ai Lambrook Station, Fairlie, with 263 per cent,, Timaru with 169 per cent, above, and at Okuru, South Westland, with 60 per cent, below. Excessive rains in Canterbury interfered with ploughing, so that the spring sowing of cereal crops will be retarded. In parts of the North Island, there were more deaths among hoggets than usua>. The temperatures everywhere were lower than the average for July. Frosts were fairly numerous, and some were severe. There was in consequence, little growth of pasture, but owing to the absence of high winds, the actual damage to vegetation was very slight. Snowfalls were frequent and copious in the ’ high country in both islands, though none lay for any time. On the low levels there still ‘appears generally to be ample green feed available, and in comparatively few cases only, resort to ensilage has been necessary. Stock are on the whole in good condition, and farming prospects are favorable. SEVERE CYCLONES The most notable meteorological feature was tho tendency for anti-cyclones to pass north of New Zealand. There was only one which proved the exception in this respect, namely that which moved across the Dominion between July 3 and 4. Fine weather prevailed generally. Three days’ cyclones were again very prevalent, and even when the depressions were of the westerly type originally, they generally develop ed a cyclonic form, by the time they reached the Dominion. The first of the more severe cyclones experienced, moved on to New Zealand on Julv 7, at 9 a.m. centred off the west coast of the South Island. During the night of July 6, north-easterly winds increased to gale force in many parts, and at Christchurch the wind was ex eeptionally violent, rain sot in, and became general on July 7. The Nelson and Marlborough districts experienced particularly heavy falls at this time, and the resulting floods caused considerable damage through the low-lying ground becoming inundated, and through numerous slips. A week later, July 13, another cyclone advanced on Now Zealand, its centre being located off Puysegur Point. The disturbance proved to be a slow moving one, and the controlling influence over our weather was exercised by it until July 19- This period was the wettest portion of the month. Heavy rains were recorded every day over large areas in the Dominion and the total amount of precipitation produced by the storm was very great. Chi July 14, the Nelson district again suffered from floods, and serious damage was done. At Tahuna, a hillside slip occurred, and some houses were wrenched from, their founda tions. In Canterbury and Otago also, floods resulted from the prolonged heavy rains, and the main road communication was interrupted both north and south of Timaru. and on the Mount Cook route. The Taieri Plain was covered with water. Fortunately, ample warning was provided, and stock were removed to the high land in time to prevent a serious loss. , , By July 20 the cyclone centre passed eastwards, and a brief respite of almost springlike weather was experienced on this day. During the night, however, rain again set in with cold southerly winds on July 22. While the anticyclone was passing north of New Zealand fair weather prevailed, but from this date onwards, however, cold, changeable, and showery conditions were the rale, though mainly fair weather experienced on July 27 28.